Oakville Real Estate News

5 Things To Know Before You Attend An Open House

House
hunting can be a daunting task, whether it's your first time buying a home
or your fifth move in a year. But after scanning your local real estate
listings and investigating every ‘For Sale’ sign in your favourite
neighbourhood, you may have finally found your dream
home. If you’re planning to attend an open house to give it a thorough
inspection, don’t go in blind.

What am I actually looking for when I visit an open house? How do I know what's
staged and what's authentic? What should I ask my real
estate agent before making an offer? These are all burning questions on a
homebuyer's mind before a showing. To ease your angst, here are five essential
things to have on your radar the next time you attend an open house.

1 Systematically explore
the entire home
Occasionally, attending an open
house can be a bit awkward (after all, you are walking through someone
else's home). The key is to be polite but thorough with your tour of the house.
"Don’t be afraid to open doors. Often powder rooms, wine cellars,
pantries, laundry rooms and secret hideaways get missed, particularly if it is
a crowded open house," says Kara Reed, a Toronto Real Estate professional.
"Come prepared and bring your tape measure, notepad, camera and questions
for your real estate agent."

2 Overlook elaborate
staging
When you participate in an open house, the interior (and exterior) will most
likely be dressed to the nines while the current owner is attempting to sell.
The trick is to ignore simulation
furniture, beautiful bathrooms and organized
basements and inspect the home as it really is—pure real estate. "Many
people forget to look past the staging at an open house," says Kara.
"You may be so wowed by the perfect decor that you overlook other more
important aspects of the home." For example, be sure to examine the
parking scheme, look for broken appliances, damages the house has suffered and
reasons why the seller has decided to move.

3 Have your eyes and ears peeled
It's one thing to be on the lookout for black mold, cracked drywall and rusty
fixtures in a potential
home, but an open house is much more than meets the eye. "Listen to
what other people are saying and pay attention to their comments as you walk
through," Kara recommends. "Although they may be your competition in
the bidding, they may also notice things that you didn't catch," she says.
In addition, you should be listening for squeaky floors, breezy
windows and leaky taps—these can all lead to major issues in the future if
you decide to purchase. 4 Discover the
surrounding neighbourhood
The advantage of attending an open house is the ability to see a prime piece of
real
estate in its natural habitat (it's no longer just a picture in a newspaper
or on a website). This means having a critical eye for nearby homes and the
location the house resides in. "Take some time to explore the
neighbourhood and surrounding streets. Drive around and check out proximity to
amenities, schools and coffee shops," Kara advises. "Don't forget to
look at the adjacent properties. If there are four doorbells, two fire escapes
and a junky backyard, you may be living next to a tenanted property or a frat
house!"

5 Go with your instincts
If a house looks too good to be true—it probably is. "Trust your gut and
sense of smell, especially when heading to the basement. If something feels
wonky, damaged, warped, whitewashed, water stained or smells musty—it might not
be the place for you," says Kara. "Chances are there may be a home
inspection available to view, so don’t be afraid to ask to see it or have
it emailed to you." Last but not least, feel free to request more data on
a listing from your real
estate agent so you can make the most informed decision upon walking out
the door of an open house.